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Round 1
Welcome one and all to Sherdog’s coverage of the final Bellator
event of the year, headlined by a sensational world title match
between Sergio Pettis and Kyoji Horiguchi. It’s a very solid, deep
card before then, including the prelims, which can be seen in the
very first fight of the night, as Oliver Enkamp (10-2), a UFC
veteran ranked #10 in Bellator’s weltereight division, faces tough
Kyle Crutchmer (7-1), a very decent 3-1 in Bellator. Referee John
English gets the first assigment of the night. Enkamp jumps across
the cage to begin, but Crutchmer gets out of the way. Enkmap then
fires a nice side kick to the face and partially connects. Enkamp
goes for a roundhouse to the head that is blocked, and Crutchmer
counters with an overhand right that almost lands. Crutchmer
decides to change levels and gets the double-leg takedown against
the cage. Enkamp is sitting up against the fence, but Crutchmer is
using the Dagestani leg trap. Eventually, Enkamp wall-walks back up
but Crutchmer is all over him. Eventually, he gets a nice mat
return against Enkamp. Enkamp uses a kimura to try to stand back
up, and eventually gets back to his feet, although Crutchmer
continues grappling. Enkamp rolls for a kimura, but Crutchmer is
too heavy and stays on top and out of danger. Enkamp spins and goes
for a possible reverse triangle. He doesn’t get it, but he ends up
on top of Crutchmer, although Crutchmer continues grinding into the
hips. Yet again, Enkamp ends up against the fence with Crutchmer
using the Dagestani leg trap with 2 minutes left. Enkamp rises
again against the cage, but not for long, as Crutchmer gets a neat
ankle pick. There is little striking going on, but Crutchmer is
controlling the position. Enkamp rises and lands a light knee to
the body, but Enkamp gets him back to his butt in no time. Enkamp
again rises, but after some grappling, Crutchmer has him back to
the canvas. Enkamp is undeterred and posts up again. He decides to
spin for a kneebar with 15 seconds left but Crutchmer avoids it and
lands a nice elbow, the best strike of the round. The bell rings.
10-9 Crutchmer.
Round 2
Enkamp is undeterred and comes forward to start the round, again
going for the side kick. Crutchmer is ready and blasts him with an
overhand right that has Enkamp backing up. Crutchmer adds two more
overhand rights, each one partially getting through, and then uses
it to get another takedown against the fence. Enkamp uses the
opportunity to recover, and a minute into the stanza, stands back
up against the cage. This time Enkamp is able to land a few knees
to the head, though none are very hard. Enkamp then locks on a
kimura and cranks it hard. It looks pretty good for a while, but
then Crutchmer, using pure strength, gets up and slams Enkamp to
the canvas hard. Soon after this Enkamp is forced to let go of the
hold. Crutchmer lands a few small punchesas Enkamp gives up the
back, but Enkamp soon rises back up. Crutchmer succcessfully takes
Enkamp back down to the canvas. Crutchmer briefly looks to have a
guillotine, but not for long. Finally, with about 2 minutes left,
Enkamp is solidly on his back. Crutchmer partially gets an elbow
strike through. Enkamp finally pushes off on Crutchmer’s hips and
then posts back up against the cage. Crutchmer tries to lace a leg
in, but Enkamp fights it off and gets back off. Unfortunately for
him, Crutchmer takes him right back down! Crutchmer has Enkamp in
another Dagestani leg trap, but Enkamp gets up until, of course,
being taken back down as the round ends. 10-9 Crutchmer.
Round 3
Both men look tired to begin the round, but Crutchmer lands a hard
leg kick to begin the stanza. Enkamp lands a body kick, but it’s
not nearly as significant. Enkamp feints forward and Crutchmer
retreats. Enkamp starts firing strikes while coming forward and
clumsily avoids a Crutchmer overhand right, which in turn allows
Crutchmer to grab his hips and take him down with a double-leg. Yet
again, Enkamp is on his butt against the fence with Crutchmer all
over him. Enkamp builds a base and gets back up, but as we’ve seen
countless times in this fight, Crutchmer takes him back down. Mauro
Ranallo mentions that this is Crutchmer’s 11th takedown of the
fight. Enkamp briefly gets up, but Crutchmer takes him back down.
Enkamp is persistent and gets back up yet again with 2 minutes
left, but he is running out of time. Crutchmer pulls hard on the
leg and Enkamp comes crashing down to the mat yet again. Enkamp
gets back up yet again and tries to go for a switch, but it’s not
there. Enkamp decides to stay on his knees for a while, until
making a final attempt to stand up with 40 seconds left. However,
his attempt to scramble is countered by Crutchmer who remains on
top. Crutchmer looks for a possible Anaconda, but there is nothing
there. Enkamp is on his back to end the fight. A tremendous
wrestling clinic by Crutchmer, if not the most violent of fights.
10-9 Crutchmer (30-27 Crutchmer).
The Official Result
Kyle Crutchmer def. Oliver Enkamp via Unanimous Decision (30-27,
30-27, 30-27)
Round 1
Next up, at a 160 pound catchweight affair, we have two more UFC
veterans, as highly entertaining Spike “The Super Alpha Ginger”
Carlyle (12-3), fresh off 3 straight finishes in 3 straight main
events since leaving the UFC, makes his Bellator debut against Dan “The Hitman” Moret (15-6), who recorded a massive upset in his
Bellator debut, winning a split decision over Goiti Yamauichi.
Keeping them honest will again be referee John English. Carlyle
begins the fight circling on the outside of the much taller Moret,
firing leg kicks. Moret avoids them and lands one of his own.
Carlyle fires an overhand right, misses, but uses it to get a
clinch. Shades of the last fight? Moret is the one pushing him
against the fence, however, and gets double underhooks. Carlyle
keeps him there, though, and lands a knee to the body. Moret lands
a knee to the body of his own but Carlyle uses it to get free. They
fire overhand rights against one another, one after the other,
although nothing is landing. Carlyle eventually lands an overhand
right that stuns Moret and he uses it to take Moret down. Moret
immediately tries to get up and Carlyle jumps on his back. However,
he is loose and falls off. Carlyle, however, takes the back and
grinds there. Eventually, he breaks Moret’s base and lands some
hard punches, but yet again, he is too high and falls through.
Moret scores a few punches of his own and has a front headlock.
With 2 minutes left, Moret goes for a guillotine choke against the
fence. Carlyle’s face turns even redder than usual, but having seen
him before, there is no way someone as tough as him will give up,
and sure enough, he gets free and fires an overhand right for good
measure. Carlyle comes forward with punches, though they already
look a little labored. Moret retreats out of the way. Moret shoots
a left cross that Carlyle ducks under and clinches, but there is
nothing there. Moret throws a head kick that partially gets through
and hurts Carlyle. Moret clinches. Carlyle gets free and then goes
for a double-leg takedown. Moret jumps guard and goes for a
guillotine, but time expires. Absolutely insane round and very
difficult to score. 10-9 Carlyle.
Round 2
Carlyle against begins the round circling. He tries a few punches,
but Moret dodges and fires a series of straights which land.
Carlyle has to retreat. Moret lands a nice front kick to the body
that causes Carlyle to crash against the cage. Moret throws a few
left crosses that land hard and then he lands a head kick that
hurts Carlyle. Moret is stalking a tired and hurt Carlyle and lands
a big knee. However, Carlyle uses it to get a single-leg takedown,
allowing him to recover. Moret immediately stands up and Carlyle
holds onto his waist for dear life. Carlyle then gets a nice
turning takedown, but Moret again immediately pops back up. Moret
briefly looks for the kimura, but soon gives it up. Moret turns
into Carlyle and then gets him off with half a round remaining.
Moret fires a 1-2 that lands and then adds another hard left cross
for good measure. He immediately chains a head kick to the end that
hurts Carlyle again, who is forced to clinch. Moret then lands a
series of monster knees to the body that hurt Carlyle very badly
indeed. They then swing recklessly at close measure and while Moret
lands, Carlyle briefly hurts Moret, too. Tremendous heart by
Carlyle, who can barely hold his arms up. Moret gets the Thai
clinch and absolutely demolishes Carlyle with knees to the head and
body. Moret gets a rear-naked choke that he is only to the side of
Carlyle for, but Carlyle is so tired he can barely resist. He does
so but ends up on his back. Moret is all over landing punches and
elbows. Moret batters Carlyle with elbows to end the stanza. 10-8
Moret.
Round 3
Carlyle lands a right hook to begin the round, and misses a
follow-up leg kick. Moret is tired now, too. Moret is too crazy
coming forward and eats a huge hook from Carlyle. Carlyle is
throwing power hooks for dear life and some of them get through.
However, Moret survives and Carlyle is completely spent with over 4
minutes left. Moret goes back to the clinch and begins destroying
Carlyle with knees to the head and body. Moret drops levels and
gets a double-leg takedown against a Carlyle with no energy to
fight it off. Both men take the opportunity to take a breather.
Moret lands a few small elbows in half-guard, but nothing major.
Carlyle scrambles with half a round left and he manages to take
Moret’s back! Incredible! He is now locking in a rear-naked choke
and it’s very tight! This is absolutely insane! Moret refuses to
tap as the choke appears to be very deep indeed. Finally, John
English checks him and realizes that Moret is completely out. What
an insane, incredible comeback by Spike Carlyle! One of the
greatest I have EVER seen in MMA and one of the best fights of the
year. I’m in awe; how did Carlyle manage to win, and by stoppage no
less, when he didn’t even have the energy to lift his arms up and
was taking tremendous damage? I’m a life-long fan now.
The Official Result
Spike Carlyle def. Dan Moret via Technical Submission (Rear-Naked
Choke) at 2:58 of Round 3